The emerging role of pyroptosis in neuropathic pain.

• This review presents the development of pyroptosis in terms of the temporal development of pyroptosis. • In this review, the typical and atypical pathways of pyroptosis are introduced to show the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis. • This review describes in detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between pyroptosis and pathological pain. • This review summarizes the current drug applications related to pyroptosis in the treatment of neuropathic pain. • This review provides new ideas for the development of drug targets for neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain caused by somatosensory system injuries is notoriously difficult to treat. Previous research has shown that neuroinflammation and cell death have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death associated with inflammatory processes, as it can enhance or sustain the inflammatory response by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review presents the current knowledge on pyroptosis and its underlying mechanisms, including the canonical and noncanonical pathways. Moreover, we discuss recent findings on the role of pyroptosis in neuropathic pain and its potential as a therapeutic target. In conclusion, this review highlights the potential significance of pyroptosis as a promising target for developing innovative therapies to treat neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]